Central Corridor project spokeswoman Laura Baenen says work on the front of the Union Depot is at least done enough to allow Christo’s restaurant to reopen soon in the lobby.

But the big deadline is still looming: getting 4th Street back into shape and three miles of University Avenue through western St. Paul open by November 30.

“We’re going to assure that they make it,” St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said this morning, at the skyway opening. “There are going to be two lanes of traffic opened up. I’ve got assurances from the project office, assurances from the contractor. They’re going to put whatever resources they need to get those lanes of traffic open. They only thing they can’t control is the Minnesota weather, but they’ve even factored that in.”

But at least you can walk from one end of downtown to another this winter without donning a parka.